Eclipse not visible in Taregna because of overcast sky

An overcast sky disappointed hundreds of those gathered here to watch the longest solar eclipse of the century early this morning.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi were among those who had come to this subdivisional town, 30 km from Patna, which is one of the best places for viewing the eclipse.

Incidentally, it was at Taregna where ancient astronomer Aryabhatta (or Aryabhatha, 476-550 AD) studied the movement of stars.

Astronomers, scientists, two representatives from NASA were present as also the members of Mumbai-based NGO SPACE. The VIPs were gathered on the rooftop of a two-storey hospital.

Some of the viewers also brought tripod-mounted telescopes to witness the rare event.

SPACE representative Amitabh Pandey said that the eclipse was not visible because of cloud cover.

A report from Siliguri in North Bengal said that the sky was overcast there too with rains since last night.

It was also raining heavily in neighbouring Jalpaiguri from where the total eclipse would have been visible.

The Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, North Bengal University Coordinator told PTI that rains marred the chances of viewing the eclipse at Jalpaiguri and Siliguri and in the rest of north Bengal.